This is a typical before and after result I get with my portrait images. I was very fortunate in this case that I had a model with great skin and great Elinchrom lighting gear.

This shows the before (the raw image) and after of my work.

Imagenomic

Portraiture

Workflow

Most often I use Noiseware as my first step, but since this was shot at ISO 100 under studio lights that wasn't necessary.
I started by removing skin blemishes and the models lip piercing using Photoshop CS6's Content Aware Patch tool. I also eliminated some hairs that I found distracting.
I intentionally left the fur sticking out by her right eye because I like how it pulled your eye back into the frame when you look at the fur.
As you can see from the untouched before image, this model saved me a lot of time by having perfect makeup and skin so much of my energy was removing the damn lip piercing (about 90% of my energy in fact). Her lips and teeth got only color treatment and the eyes just got minor dodge and burn.
Nik Software's Tonal Contrast was the filter that gave it the color pop. See my blog for a review of Color Efex 4 and a discount on that product. I also have video tutorials of similar photos that show how I do edits like this one. Visit http://www.ronmartblog.com/2012/02/review-nik-software-color-efex-4the.html